Paul,
You know I have to agree with you. One year, flush with some commission money, I bought Litespeed and Yeti bikes (too expensive). The guys started calling me a poser which was odd because I had biked with them for a while and was in the fast pack anyway. It seems the bike you ride can somehow break groups up in to castes if you will. At the air gun events I've been to it seems everybody is the same regardless of what you shoot. At the last shoot guys with high end Walthers, Weihrauch, and USFTs were swapping rifles with guys with Quests and BAMs. All was good and the talk was not about how much they cost but how well we could shoot. So you are right it is about the joy of shooting and not per se about the equipment although we can all appreciate fine shooters!
To the others, I also understand the skill and knowledge that pro-tuners have. Yes we may never reach that level of evolution but I can tell you the joy of taking something apart and making it better really rocks my boat. Yes others can do it better but the personal satisfaction of saying I did that is priceless. So to all of those that haven't "wrenched" their own I say go for it (I'd also say buy an inexpensive rifle with good potential to do it on...Crosman, Gamo and Chinese are great for this.)
Thanks all and glad I didn't cause class warfare or a riot here!
Andy